A pensioner has started volunteering at her own care home to lighten the load of hardworking staff.
Maureen Townend, 83, a retired receptionist from Rotherham, surprised staff of Flower Park Care Home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, by telling them she’d like to be a care assistant in April.
Fit and active Maureen, who has been living in the care home since March last year, has impressed staff and now lends a hand whenever she can, handling linen and setting tables for dinner.
One of her favourite jobs is handing out tea and cake to her fellow residents in the afternoon, and since joining the team, Maureen has worn her uniform every single day.
Maureen Townend, a retired receptionist from Rotherham, surprised staff of Flower Park Care Home in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, by telling them she’d like to be a care assistant in April
‘I like to be busy and I love helping people,’ said Maureen. ‘I might not always be fit enough to be busy.
‘I don’t want a job but I like to volunteer and help. I don’t mind making cups of tea and helping with what I can.
‘I still like cleaning but not like I used to. I can’t do as much as I could when I was younger, though, and I like my rest sometimes as well’
Deputy manager of Flower Park, Danielle Savage, described Maureen as ‘very fit, healthy and active’ and says being busy and useful gives Maureen ‘a sense of purpose.’
The pensioner, who has been living in the care home since March last year, has impressed staff and now lends a hand whenever she can around the home
‘She’s definitely a bit of a character and likes to take the lead’, she said, ‘Maureen’s very well known to the other residents.
‘As a person, Maureen prefers to be on the go constantly, she likes to be doing stuff. I think it worries her that if she ever stops going, that’s when she’ll decline, so she likes to keep going and keep her mind stimulated.
‘While she’s doing it she brings a smile to everyone’s faces. She makes the residents smile, she makes the staff smile and she’s making herself happy.
‘For us as a home, it’s nice to see her making her own choices. She’s amazing.’
Danielle was handing out medication when Maureen approached her and said she wanted to be a care assistant.
Deputy manager of Flower Park, Danielle Savage, (pictured with Maureen) described her as ‘very fit, healthy and active’ and says being busy and useful gives Maureen ‘a sense of purpose’
‘I told her carers work very long hours and are on their feet for 12 hours at a time sometimes’, said Danielle. ‘I said maybe it’s time for her to be looked after.
‘However, she still wanted to keep busy so I said she could help us out with a volunteering role. She was really happy.
‘Then I went into the cupboard and got her a uniform out so she felt part of the team, which she absolutely loved.
Danielle says Maureen takes pride in wearing her uniform every day, and that other residents can’t want to see her bring them their cup of tea.
‘Maureen really steps up to the mark when she’s got her uniform on, she takes pride in what she does’, she told.
One of her favourite jobs is handing out tea and cake to her fellow residents in the afternoon, and since joining the team, Maureen has worn her uniform every single day
‘She loves going round and socialising with the other residents and giving them cake and cups of tea.
‘Now the other residents are used to her doing it and I think they look forward to that part of the day when she’s helping out.’
Danielle added that when Maureen’s daily duties are done she treats herself to a well-deserved cup of tea and some chocolate.
‘We’re all so proud of her’, she said. ‘She’s loved by everyone in the care home and she’s a pleasure to have.’